Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2247 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R15361 SOS-D
2	2	By: West S.B. No. 2247
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund
8	8	capital projects at public institutions of higher education.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Sections 55.1791, 55.1792, 55.1793, 55.1794,
12	12	55.1795, 55.1796, 55.1797, 55.1798, 55.1799, and 55.17992 to read
13	13	as follows:
14	14	Sec. 55.1791. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
15	15	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
16	16	subchapter, the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System
17	17	may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or
18	18	equip property and facilities, including roads and related
19	19	infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
20	20	bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
21	21	systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the
22	22	following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate
23	23	principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
24	24	(1) Prairie View A&M University, $60 million for
25	25	construction of an engineering classroom and research building;
26	26	(2) Tarleton State University, $72 million for
27	27	construction of an agricultural and natural resources building;
28	28	(3) Texas A&M University, $75 million for construction
29	29	of an instructional laboratory and innovative learning facility;
30	30	(4) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $25 million
31	31	for construction of a central utility plant;
32	32	(5) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $49.5 million for
33	33	construction of an agriculture multipurpose education and training
34	34	center;
35	35	(6) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, $58.5
36	36	million for construction of an arts and media building;
37	37	(7) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $58,349,500 for
38	38	construction of an immersive scholarship and learning environment
39	39	building, a central plant, and campus infrastructure;
40	40	(8) Texas A&M International University, $9 million for
41	41	renovation of and additions to the fine and performing arts
42	42	building;
43	43	(9) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $65 million for
44	44	construction of a STEM and health professions workforce development
45	45	complex;
46	46	(10) Texas A&M University--San Antonio, $53 million
47	47	for construction of an academic and library building;
48	48	(11) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $46 million for
49	49	construction of a business, engineering, and technology building;
50	50	(12) West Texas A&M University, $28.5 million for
51	51	capital improvements to address life and fire safety issues; and
52	52	(13) The Texas A&M University System Health Science
53	53	Center, $100 million for a joint project with The University of
54	54	Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas
55	55	Health Science Center at Houston for construction of a biomedical
56	56	research facility.
57	57	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
58	58	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
59	59	an institution, branch, or entity of The Texas A&M University
60	60	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
61	61	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
62	62	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
63	63	bonds, are outstanding.
64	64	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
65	65	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
66	66	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The Texas A&M
67	67	University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
68	68	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
69	69	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
70	70	Sec. 55.1792. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
71	71	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
72	72	subchapter, the board of regents of The University of Texas System
73	73	may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or
74	74	equip property and facilities, including roads and related
75	75	infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
76	76	bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
77	77	systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the
78	78	following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate
79	79	principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
80	80	(1) The University of Texas at Arlington, $60.8
81	81	million for construction of a social work and college of nursing
82	82	academic building;
83	83	(2) The University of Texas at Austin, $100 million
84	84	for restoration of the J. T. Patterson Labs building;
85	85	(3) The University of Texas at Dallas, $60 million for
86	86	a joint project with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
87	87	Center at Dallas for construction of a transitional biomedical
88	88	engineering and science building;
89	89	(4) The University of Texas at El Paso, $100 million
90	90	for construction of an advanced teaching and learning complex;
91	91	(5) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, $40
92	92	million for improvement and renovation of the Mesa building;
93	93	(6) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley, $70
94	94	million for construction of a health affairs building;
95	95	(7) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $100
96	96	million for construction of a college of business building;
97	97	(8) The University of Texas at Tyler, $50 million for
98	98	construction of a college of nursing and health science building;
99	99	(9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
100	100	Houston, $100 million for a joint project with The Texas A&M
101	101	University System Health Science Center and The University of Texas
102	102	M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for construction of a biomedical
103	103	research facility;
104	104	(10) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
105	105	San Antonio, $82 million for construction of the Glenn Biggs
106	106	Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases building;
107	107	(11) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
108	108	Tyler, $18,521,432 for improvement and renovation of a biomedical
109	109	research building;
110	110	(12) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
111	111	Center, $100 million for a joint project with The Texas A&M
112	112	University System Health Science Center and The University of Texas
113	113	Health Science Center at Houston for construction of a biomedical
114	114	research facility;
115	115	(13) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
116	116	Galveston, $100 million for construction of an education and
117	117	clinical multiuse building; and
118	118	(14) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
119	119	Center at Dallas, $60 million for a joint project with The
120	120	University of Texas at Dallas for construction of a transitional
121	121	biomedical engineering and science building.
122	122	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
123	123	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
124	124	an institution, branch, or entity of The University of Texas
125	125	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
126	126	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
127	127	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
128	128	bonds, are outstanding.
129	129	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
130	130	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
131	131	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The University
132	132	of Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
133	133	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
134	134	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
135	135	Sec. 55.1793. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
136	136	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
137	137	subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
138	138	System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
139	139	enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
140	140	related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
141	141	issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
142	142	accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
143	143	the board for the following entity and institutions, not to exceed
144	144	the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects
145	145	specified, as follows:
146	146	(1) the University of Houston System, $75 million for
147	147	the repair and renovation of the campus located in Katy, Texas;
148	148	(2) the University of Houston, $60 million for
149	149	construction of a law center building;
150	150	(3) the University of Houston--Clear Lake, $56 million
151	151	for Phase II of the STEM and classroom building construction;
152	152	(4) the University of Houston--Downtown, $100 million
153	153	for construction of an arts, sciences, engineering, and
154	154	entrepreneurship center; and
155	155	(5) the University of Houston--Victoria, $74.7
156	156	million for campus expansion.
157	157	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
158	158	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
159	159	an institution, branch, or entity of the University of Houston
160	160	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
161	161	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
162	162	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
163	163	bonds, are outstanding.
164	164	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
165	165	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
166	166	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University
167	167	of Houston System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
168	168	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
169	169	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
170	170	Sec. 55.1794. TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
171	171	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
172	172	subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas State University
173	173	System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
174	174	enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
175	175	related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
176	176	issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
177	177	accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
178	178	the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
179	179	following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
180	180	as follows:
181	181	(1) Lamar University, $45 million for construction of
182	182	a digital learning center;
183	183	(2) Lamar State College--Orange, $32 million for
184	184	construction of an academic building;
185	185	(3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $20 million for
186	186	construction of an allied health building;
187	187	(4) Lamar Institute of Technology, $20 million for
188	188	construction of a workforce training center;
189	189	(5) Sam Houston State University, $70 million for
190	190	construction of an allied health building;
191	191	(6) Sul Ross State University, $25.5 million for
192	192	expansion of the fine arts facility;
193	193	(7) Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College, $20
194	194	million for construction of an education center located in Eagle
195	195	Pass, Texas; and
196	196	(8) Texas State University, $100 million for
197	197	construction of a STEM classroom building located in San Marcos,
198	198	Texas.
199	199	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
200	200	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
201	201	an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas State University
202	202	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
203	203	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
204	204	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
205	205	bonds, are outstanding.
206	206	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
207	207	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
208	208	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State
209	209	University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
210	210	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
211	211	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
212	212	Sec. 55.1795. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
213	213	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
214	214	subchapter, the board of regents of the University of North Texas
215	215	System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
216	216	enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
217	217	related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
218	218	issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
219	219	accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
220	220	the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
221	221	following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
222	222	as follows:
223	223	(1) the University of North Texas, $100 million for
224	224	construction of a science and technology research building;
225	225	(2) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $92
226	226	million for construction of a STEM building; and
227	227	(3) the University of North Texas Health Science
228	228	Center at Fort Worth, $100 million for construction of an academic
229	229	building.
230	230	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
231	231	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
232	232	an institution, branch, or entity of the University of North Texas
233	233	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
234	234	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
235	235	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
236	236	bonds, are outstanding.
237	237	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
238	238	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
239	239	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University
240	240	of North Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
241	241	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
242	242	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
243	243	Sec. 55.1796. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL BONDS.
244	244	(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter,
245	245	the board of regents of Texas Woman's University may acquire,
246	246	purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property
247	247	and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a
248	248	health sciences center, to be financed through the issuance of
249	249	bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the
250	250	aggregate principal amount of $100 million.
251	251	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
252	252	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
253	253	Texas Woman's University, including student tuition charges. The
254	254	amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or
255	255	abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
256	256	issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
257	257	Sec. 55.1797. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL
258	258	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
259	259	subchapter, the board of regents of Midwestern State University may
260	260	acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
261	261	property and facilities, including roads and related
262	262	infrastructure, for infrastructure upgrades, to be financed
263	263	through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter,
264	264	not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $10 million.
265	265	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
266	266	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
267	267	Midwestern State University, including student tuition charges.
268	268	The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced
269	269	or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
270	270	issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
271	271	Sec. 55.1798. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY;
272	272	ADDITIONAL BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted
273	273	by this subchapter, the board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State
274	274	University may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
275	275	enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
276	276	related infrastructure, for a natural resources science and
277	277	innovations laboratory, to be financed through the issuance of
278	278	bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the
279	279	aggregate principal amount of $48 million.
280	280	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
281	281	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
282	282	Stephen F. Austin State University, including student tuition
283	283	charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not
284	284	be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is
285	285	made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
286	286	Sec. 55.1799. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
287	287	BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
288	288	subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Tech University
289	289	System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
290	290	enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
291	291	related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
292	292	issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
293	293	accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
294	294	the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
295	295	following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
296	296	as follows:
297	297	(1) Angelo State University, $22.5 million for
298	298	construction of a college of arts and humanities building;
299	299	(2) Texas Tech University, $100 million for
300	300	construction of a science and engineering complex;
301	301	(3) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
302	302	$34,650,000 for expansion of the academic and clinic building
303	303	located in Amarillo, Texas; and
304	304	(4) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El
305	305	Paso, $92,349,000 for construction of a dental school building.
306	306	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
307	307	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
308	308	an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas Tech University
309	309	System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
310	310	made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
311	311	bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
312	312	bonds, are outstanding.
313	313	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
314	314	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
315	315	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas Tech
316	316	University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
317	317	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
318	318	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
319	319	Sec. 55.17992. TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. (a)
320	320	In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
321	321	board of regents of the Texas State Technical College System may
322	322	acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
323	323	property and facilities, including roads and related
324	324	infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
325	325	bonds in accordance with this subchapter for the following entity
326	326	and institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal
327	327	amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
328	328	(1) Texas State Technical College System, $16.5
329	329	million for Phase II of the industrial technology center located in
330	330	Williamson County;
331	331	(2) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend,
332	332	$30,377,000 for Phase III of the campus construction;
333	333	(3) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen, $20
334	334	million for construction of an industrial technology center;
335	335	(4) Texas State Technical College--Marshall,
336	336	$8,572,000 for consolidation construction for a single campus;
337	337	(5) Texas State Technical College--North Texas,
338	338	$10,938,000 for Phase II of the new campus construction;
339	339	(6) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $20 million
340	340	for construction of a computer technology center; and
341	341	(7) Texas State Technical College--West Texas,
342	342	$28,177,000 for Phase II of the Abilene campus construction.
343	343	(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
344	344	authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
345	345	an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas State Technical
346	346	College System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a
347	347	pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated
348	348	while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to
349	349	refund those bonds, are outstanding.
350	350	(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
351	351	meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
352	352	funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State
353	353	Technical College System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
354	354	allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
355	355	entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
356	356	SECTION 2. This Act does not affect any authority or
357	357	restriction regarding the activities that a public institution of
358	358	higher education may conduct in connection with a facility financed
359	359	by bonds authorized by this Act.
360	360	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.